Network architecture using Wi-Fi devices

Abstract

Methods and apparatuses for Wi-Fi network operation are disclosed. In one example, a plurality of Wi-Fi bases are discovered, each Wi-Fi base associated with a wireless Wi-Fi device. A Wi-Fi channel associated with a group of Wi-Fi bases is selected and its use evaluated. An operational parameter is configured responsive to the Wi-Fi channel utilization.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method for operating a network of Wi-Fi bases comprising:
 discovering a plurality of Wi-Fi bases, each Wi-Fi base associated with a wireless Wi-Fi device in a one-to-one relationship; 
 assigning each Wi-Fi base to a group of Wi-Fi bases, the plurality of Wi-Fi bases divided into two or more groups; 
 selecting an operating Wi-Fi channel for each group of the two or more groups; 
 evaluating a Wi-Fi channel utilization at a Wi-Fi base; and 
 configuring an operational parameter at the Wi-Fi base responsive to the Wi-Fi channel utilization. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , wherein each Wi-Fi base of the plurality of Wi-Fi bases is a USB device coupled to a USB port of a computing device. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the wireless Wi-Fi device is a telecommunications headset. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 1 , wherein selecting an operating Wi-Fi channel for each group of the two or more groups comprises selecting a non-overlapping channel for a neighboring group. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising linking a Wi-Fi base with the wireless Wi-Fi device. 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 1 , wherein evaluating a Wi-Fi channel utilization at a Wi-Fi base comprises determining a high channel utilization condition or a low channel utilization condition. 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the operational parameter comprises a physical layer transmission power level, a physical layer transmission data rate, a MAC layer QoS parameter, an application layer packet payload size and packet transmission interval, or an application layer audio coding mechanism. 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising receiving a control message at a Wi-Fi base comprising a start voice session message, a remote configuration message, or a remote troubleshooting message. 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 8 , further comprising gathering performance metrics at the Wi-Fi base responsive to the remote troubleshooting message, the performance metrics comprising a packet loss rate, a packet retransmission rate, a packet delay, or a packet jitter. 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising modifying an operational parameter at the Wi-Fi base responsive to determining a low audio quality between the Wi-Fi base and the wireless Wi-Fi device, the operational parameter modified to improve the low audio quality. 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 10 , wherein the operational parameter comprises a physical layer transmission power level, a physical layer transmission data rate, a MAC layer QoS parameter, an application layer packet payload size and packet transmission interval, or an application layer audio coding mechanism. 
     
     
       12. A non-transitory computer readable storage memory storing instructions that when executed by a computer cause the computer to perform a method for Wi-Fi base operation comprising:
 discovering a plurality of Wi-Fi bases, each Wi-Fi base associated with a wireless Wi-Fi device in a one-to-one relationship; 
 selecting a Wi-Fi channel associated with a group of Wi-Fi bases, wherein the group of Wi-Fi bases is a subset of the plurality of Wi-Fi bases; 
 evaluating a Wi-Fi channel utilization for the W-Fi channel; and 
 configuring an operational parameter responsive to the Wi-Fi channel utilization. 
 
     
     
       13. The non-transitory computer readable storage memory of  claim 12 , wherein the operational parameter comprises a physical layer transmission power level, a physical layer transmission data rate, a MAC layer QoS parameter, an application layer packet payload size and packet transmission interval, or an application layer audio coding mechanism. 
     
     
       14. The non-transitory computer readable storage memory of  claim 12 , the method further comprising connecting to an associated wireless Wi-Fi device. 
     
     
       15. The non-transitory computer readable storage memory of  claim 14 , wherein the associated wireless Wi-Fi device is a telecommunications headset. 
     
     
       16. The non-transitory computer readable storage memory of  claim 12 , wherein evaluating a Wi-Fi channel utilization comprises determining a high channel utilization condition or a low channel utilization condition. 
     
     
       17. The non-transitory computer readable storage memory of  claim 12 , the method further comprising receiving a control message comprising a start voice session message, a remote configuration message, or a remote troubleshooting message. 
     
     
       18. The non-transitory computer readable storage memory of  claim 17 , the method further comprising gathering performance metrics responsive to the remote troubleshooting message, the performance metrics comprising a packet loss rate, a packet retransmission rate, a packet delay, or a packet jitter. 
     
     
       19. The non-transitory computer readable storage memory of  claim 12 , the method further comprising modifying an operational parameter responsive to determining a low audio quality with a wireless Wi-Fi device, the operational parameter modified to improve the low audio quality.